Hope for a new humanity

"It nurtures the hope for a new humanity as I take in a little bit of Living City food each day."

NUKE-FREE WORLD
I think everyone would agree that a world without nuclear weapons is to be preferred to one with them, but nuclear weaponry is already a long-standing technology, shared by many, many nations. Is it reasonable to think that every nation that may pledge to get rid of them actually will, despite strict international control? If such control could really be effective, that would be wonderful. But what evidence do we have that any country will actually stop developing nuclear weapons even though it claims it is? The article (April’s Living City) mentions that the World Court has ruled that the use of or threat of use of nuclear weapons is prohibited under international law. But global jihad is not permitted under international law, and neither is arming surrogate terrorist armies. In such a scenario, why should any country that possesses nuclear weapons voluntarily give them up? No one would argue that nuclear weapons and their proliferation is a good thing; it’s a horrifying prospect. But highlighting the U.S. as the one setting the bad example strikes me as a curious choice, one I don’t understand.
Roberta Rubin, Los Angeles

I read the article on nuclear disarmament with pleasure and interest. In 2001 at the NPT Review Conference, the Holy See seized the opportunity to update its position on nuclear deterrence. In a statement I said, “When the Holy See expressed its limited acceptance of nuclear deterrence during the Cold War, it was with the clearly stated condition that deterrence was only a step on the way towards progressive nuclear disarmament, [not as] a permanent measure.”
Archpshop Celestino Migliore, Vatican permanent observer to the UN, New York

I had just finished reading the article in Living City when I saw in The New York Times and on the UN website the news about the successful negotiations between Russia and the U.S. towards cutting their nuclear weapons as an “important milestone for the international efforts” to reach a nuke-free world. “I hope that the Russian Federation and the United States will continue their efforts in the pursuit of additional measures to reduce and eliminate all nuclear weapons,” wrote the UN Secretary-General, and he encouraged other nuclear-weapon states to follow suit and ratify the treaty. Hopefully this month’s event at the UN will mark another step toward peace.
Ada Hyde, Bronx, New York

HOPE FOR A NEW HUMANITY
What is new about what Living City and New City Press have to say? To present different ideas in a position of unity. There is a need for clarity on issues that generate hope and resist falling into subtle depression in the complexity of contemporary society.

These written means of communication provide seeds of hope. Experiences are basic. Understanding and applications are insights that come out of reading experiences. I have been trying to read a page or two in the current issue each day. It nurtures the hope for a new humanity as I take in a little bit of Living City food each day.
Michael Gund, Hyde Park, NY

HANDY ON THE WEBSITE
I have known the Focolare for many years from the time I was a seminarian. Over the years I have been receiving Living City. To read the articles on your website is very handy, because as a priest I often use the experiences in my homilies and just to be able to copy and paste saves a lot of typing.
Fr. Peter O’Kane, Holywood, Ireland

I was in the Philippines last February when Focolare President Maria Voce was visiting. After Co-president Giancarlo Faletti shared his experience about the Focolare magazine, I brought him a copy of Living City as my gift all the way from Canada.
Susan Pangilinan, Living City Campaign Manager, Toronto

Post your comments and stories online, or send your letters to livingcity.ed@livingcitymagazine.com or to Living City, 202 Comforter Blvd, Hyde Park, New York 12538. Include a full name, address and phone number. We may edit submissions for clarity and length, and we regret not being able to publish or answer every letter.

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